Thirty-five pipo die as gunmen attack Niger biggest airport

Thirty-five pipo die afta gunmen strike Niger largest airport on Thursday, officials tok.

Dis na di second attack in less dan five months.

Residents for di predominately Muslim kontri tell BBC say dem just finish dia morning prayers wen di explosions and gunshot blast from Diori Hamani International Airport, wey dey for di capital, Niamey.

Niger defence ministry say di fatalities include 22 assailants, 11 sojas, and two civilians.

On Thursday evening, Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claim responsibility for di attack.

Niger don dey fight Islamist insurgency for 10 years and for January, one organisation wey dey linked to di Islamic State group claim responsibility for attack on di same airport.

Thursday violence bin go down by mid-morning and security forces don launch manhunt for di remaining attackers.

Lawalli Tsalha, wey dey live near di airport, wey also host one military base, tell BBC say: "We bin finish our prayer at about 05:50 (04:50 GMT) and shortly afterwards we hear one loud bang - like somtin explode, maybe tyre.

"Na later we realise wetin dey happun."

Authorities tok say alongside di 22 attackers wey die, anoda four pipo injure. Dem add say dem arrest 20 suspects.

Authorities say dem seize large cache of weapons wey include RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, communications equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

Armed local residents also join for di manhunt, though witnesses tell BBC say security personnel attempt to stop civilians make dem no chook bodi.

One resident, wey no want make im name dey mentioned, say: "Di attackers mix wit local population, so finding dem no dey easy. Civilians pick up machetes and sticks to defend demsefs and to strike anyone wey dem no recognise wey come dia way."

Govment bin lock down di airport area on Thursday afternoon, as security forces dey search vehicles wey dey enta and leave di area.

African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf don "strongly condemn" di assault and hail Nigerien forces wey dia actions "make am possible to repel di attack and secure di airport facilities”.

Diori Hamani International Airport na one of Niger most sensitive security installations, as e dey serve as both a civilian aviation hub and military base.

E also host facilities wey dey linked to di Alliance of Sahel States (AES), wey include Niger and dia neighbours, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Na juntas dey run di three kontris wey come into power in part sake of failure to deal wit years of jihadist violence for di region.

For January attack on di airport, four military personnel injure and 20 attackers kpai, Niger defence ministry tok.

At di time, di head of Niger military govment, wey don dey power for three years, tank Russia for dia help in foiling di attack.

Abdourahamane Tchiani also accuse di presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast say dem dey support dose wey dey responsible.

E no give details of di kain help wey Russia don provide or provide any evidence to support im accusations against di oda kontris.

In recent weeks, authorities for Niger don demolish neighbourhoods near di airport, as dem cite "terrorist risks".

Dem don also extend di airport perimeter fence and install more dan 350 surveillance cameras, AFP report.